But those reforms can't occur without congressional action, and Montanans for Health Care will help pressure Congress and engage the public on the issue, said its chairman, former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams of Missoula.
“Public demand for reform of health care insurance is about to reach its crest,” he said at a Capitol news conference. “Let's follow the American people toward change, for a change, and that includes reform of health-care insurance.”
It's not pushing a specific health care plan, but wants private insurance or government-funded care available and affordable for all. Toward that end, it says the government should crack down on industry practices that make health insurance unaffordable for many.
Local groups for the coalition, dubbed Health Care for America Now, held news conferences in 43 cities across the country Tuesday, including Helena.
“In Montana and communities all across the country, we're asking one question: Whose side are you on?” said Kim Abbott, an organizer for the Montana Human Rights Network. “Are you on the side of quality, affordable health care? Or are you on the side of being left alone, to fend for yourself, in a complicated, bureaucratic health insurance market?”
Health Care for America Now plans a $40 million campaign to promote universal health coverage, including advertising in key congressional districts. Williams, a Democratic congressman from 1979 to 1996, said some of the ads will show up in Montana.
Montanans for Health Care plans to hold town meetings, push for congressional hearings in the state and persuade Montana's congressional delegation to get on board - particularly U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.
“An aggressive, vigorous push with the Finance Committee and by the chair is going to be absolutely essential, so Max Baucus is in a key place,” Williams said.
Baucus already has held health-care hearings before the committee. His office said Tuesday that he “looks forward to continue meeting with Montanans on ways to make sure all Montanans and Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., made a similar statement Tuesday. A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., said Rehberg has always supported providing access to health care for Montanans, but wants to see what type of proposals the coalition will propose or support.
Abbott and others at the Tuesday news conference said millions of people are declaring bankruptcy or facing financial hardships because of medical bills.
Sean Morrison of Forward Montana, a group of young Democrats, told of a friend who had completed college with few student-loan debts, but who had kidney failure while he took a semester off from school to work.
The friend was without health insurance at the time and rang up $19,000 in medical bills, and bill collectors are suing him to collect the money.
“(His) future was declared bankrupt before it began,” Morrison said of his friend. “America's health care system has deprived us of our future. We're describing a system that works against young Americans who are willing and want to work for America.”
Much of the coalition's rhetoric Tuesday was directed at the private health insurance industry, saying insurers shouldn't be able to charge whatever they want, set high deductibles, deny coverage based on “pre-existing health conditions” or drop coverage.
Frank Cote, director of government relations for Montana Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the state's largest private health insurer, said restricting insurance-underwriting practices may make health insurance more expensive for everyone.
Nonetheless, he said insurers “want to be part of the solution,” and realize that the current health care system and its costs probably aren't sustainable.
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